I could list all kinds of reasons that evangelism’s difficult. It can be frightening to try to speak truth into someone else’s life. We may not have all the answers to somebody’s questions. It might be that a friend rejects us because of our attempt to share the gospel with him or her. Even worse, we might face persecution—particularly around the world—for our faithfulness. Behind all these reasons is also a supernatural enemy who wants to keep us from telling the good news (Eph 6:10-12).
There is, though, another reason on my mind today that explains why evangelism is more difficult. I realized it a few years ago at the gym, but it seems the problem is only worse now.
Let me explain. Many years ago, I began going to the gym because (1) I needed the exercise to take care of the body God has given me, and (2) I wanted to be around non-believers more. In the gym, I found a bunch of people who cared for their physical well-being but thought little about their spiritual condition. Back then, I did have ongoing opportunities to speak of Jesus at the counter, in the locker room, on the gym floor, and even in the parking lot.
It’s not so easy anymore. On one hand, it’s increasingly difficult to talk to anyone when everybody is wearing headphones or ear pods. Many drive to the gym with their music in their ears, and they seldom hear anything other than what they alone can hear. It’s tough to tell people about Jesus when nobody’s listening.
On the other hand, that’s just a symptom of what’s going on around us. We communicate via texts—and even then often without complete words. In fact, we speak with emojis quite often. Then, we’re engrossed in our phones even when we are trying to have a conversation with someone. We listen with one ear while our mind is more committed elsewhere. We take little time to talk because it seems no one wants to hear.
Here’s my point: it’s hard to do evangelism when nobody’s really talking to anybody. As believers, we—beginning with me, for I’m guilty, too—must take the initiative to engage people, draw their interest and attention to the gospel, and speak the good news clearly to them in the few minutes they might grant us. That means we create opportunities by initiating conversations, listening closely to others, and taking those conversations clearly and concisely to the gospel.
It’s just hard to do.
Would you pray for me that I would stay faithful to this task?
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This article originally appeared on ChuckLawless.com and is reposted here with permission.